Is Any Republican Going To Condemn Marshall's Comments?

Comments

[I.Publius]

Maybe Rahm Emanuel should say something.

[Bob Marshal is a phony and Pubes is a putz]

Yes, I Pubes. Because calling members of your own team retards in a private setting because you think they are being obtuse about political tactics is EXACTLY the same thing as standing on the floor of the legislature and saying hateful things about disabled children and their mothers.

How could anyone possibly see anything different in those two situations? They obviously don't understand, as you do, that no matter how egregious the behavior, IT'S OK IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN.

[Lowell Feld]

FYI, 10th CD candidate Rich Anthony is calling for Bob Marshall's resignation.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/2/23/839806/-Bob-Marshall-Should-Resign-For-His-Heinous-Remarks

[Jon]

8:54 poster...look, certainly not condoning Marshall's comments as they were hateful and disgusting. But if you are going to trash someone and an entire Party, at least get the damn facts straight. It wasn't on the floor, it was at a news conference. Still entirely disgusting.....

[Steve Vaughan]

Is anybody going to condemn his comment? yes. Del. Brenda Pogge, who spoke at the same press conference, could't disavow Marshall's comments fast enough when I asked her.

[Bruce Roemmelt]

You can send a message by donating $13 to the Prince William Democrats in our continuing effort to change our representation in Richmond. We will not give up!

Bob Marshall is an embarrassment to Prince William and Virginia. Please donate $13 to the the PW Dems to help us unseat this anti everything person.
http://bit.ly/cBz5iR << This is our ActBlue Page!

bruce roemmelt, PWC Dems Vice Chair

[Blue Virginia Sucks]

Lowell's getting paid again, and it's taken him only a few weeks to become a total whore once again. Yesterday while this major national story was breaking, he had it at #2 on his blog behind a party that Krystal Ball was having. Today, after all the national attention his lead story is Rich Anthony (who the fuck is that?) thinks Bob should resign and check out his diary on it.

Fuck You Lowell.

[Spock]

Bruce Roemmelt is awesome! Hope he runs again!

[Stevens Miller]

I am not a Republican, but my statement condemning Marshall's remarks is at my wife's blog: http://doorbellqueen.blogspot.com/2010/02/press-release-from-stevens-miller.html#links

Stevens Miller
Dulles District Supervisor
Loudoun County
(where I share several thousand constituents with Mr. Marshall)

[Brian W. Schoeneman]

Bob McDonnell has condemned the remarks, and I've got a post up at Too Conservative condemning the statements as well.

It would be hypocritical for us to slam Rahm without policing our own ranks.

As for the Democrats condemning Marshall (and Lowell's paid advertisement for the next Democratic sacrificial lamb to Frank Wolf), that's about as newsworthy as dog bites man.

[Dan]

Brian, I think you are making a mistake trying to cast this in a partisan light. Talking about the predictability of Democrats criticizing Marshall because he is a Republican. And further trying to muddy the waters by throwing in a completely unrelated comment about the Congressional race in the 10th CD. The fact that Marshall is one of your guys is irrelevant.

People of widely divergent political views can all be equally appalled by Marshall's remarks. And equally embarrassed that this story has gone national and cast Virginia in a bad light.

[Brian W. Schoeneman]

Dan, I agree. Which is why I think it's funny to see Lowell and Miller rushing here to post their own condemnations, as if it isn't 100% expected that any Democrat is going to take the opportunity to bash Marshall.

Ben wanted to know when Republicans are going to condemn Marshall, and that's why I posted here.

[Barbara Munsey]

Mr. Miller, don't you have a budget you should be worrying about?

I am one of your "constituents", although not in the 13th, and it is amazing but not surprising to see you try for a piece of this, when you have worked closely with Marshall through your former commissioner and others on several anti-road, anti-service issues in the Dulles district.

He's okay if he's good for some no-growth action, isn't he?

Please, stop campaigning for a minute (in whatever district you've chosen for your next venture) and go cut some stuff from the budget--like those open-space deferrals for parcels too small to subdivide, for a start.

And yes, I've been a member of the Loudoun Republican Committee and there's no excuse for this language.

[Slim]

Babs: Thanks for acknowledging that Bob Marshall was wrong. He did not have the courage to do the same, when he stated, "I regret any misimpression my poorly chosen words may have created." So, Bob just said that he regrets that people did not properly understand the words he chose - he did not acknowledge that the basic idea he conveyed was wrong. I think Bob should resign. What do you think, Babs?

[Patrick McDade]

I think what he said is absolutely offensive and should result in public apology at the very least.

[Barbara Munsey]

Slim: I think that's up to people in the 13th.

They are well aware of Marshall's positions and actions, and on balance will either keep him or let him go.

I am not in his district, and I agree with him on some issues, and thoroughly disagree on others.

I can neither vote for nor against him.

I can vote against Miller if his next race is actually in his district, as his last was not (only one year after running for the four-year office he has, and neglected to try and do some ladder climbing).

We have a contentious budget on the table, and overdue service needs in Dulles.

I am probably every bit as tired of Miller grandstanding on social issues for cred that has nothing to do with his current responsibilities as you may be with Marshall's focus on social issues as well.

[www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawkYqVwrKwZRlpD2yAerf60smeBA4DpEeUc]

I am not holding my breath for the day Barbara Munsey will refrain from criticizing a Democrat because they are not in her voting district.

[change]

Marshall's statement today proves the old adage “ don’t believe everything you hear (read) and only half of what you see”.

He called out the muckrakers and explained his real comments and beliefs and actions.
I am sure the truth will garner as much attention as the fantasy web spun by these bottom feeding “journalists”. (however I am not holding my breath).

[Barbara Munsey]

googlespam, did you miss the part where I said there is no excuse for his words? Must have, I guess.

And the Democrat I am criticizing--Miller, the ever-campaigning ladder climber harping on social issues while decrying them in others' political work--IS in my district.

The one he periodically neglects while campaigning for other offices.

[Steve Vaughan]

Change-
Nope. You're full of partisan crap. The audio of Marshall's original statement is online. People can listen for themselves and clearly hear that he was not taken out of context by the reporter. His exact words were reported.

[www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawkYqVwrKwZRlpD2yAerf60smeBA4DpEeUc]

I usually try to avoid getting into pissing contests with Republican skunks!

[Bob Marshall]

You need to check the facts and go to my website. There also was an article in the W Post today which presented more information in the Metro section. Below are my comments I delivered on the House Floor on Wednesday.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday February 18th, a press conference was held in the General Assembly, the purpose of which was to demand Planned Parenthood not receive any funds out of the state budget. Media attending included ABC News, Channel 8, CBN, The Washington Post, Richmond Times, The Virginia Pilot, The Associated Press and other fine news sources.

Next day press reports noted comments made at the press conference. Conspicuously absent from all the reports was the claim that any speakers at this press conference made statements calling handicapped children punishment from God for abortion.

Three days later on February 21, Capital News Service claimed that I did in fact make such a statement, yet, no other news service picked up this "alleged statement."

Why? Because that statement was never said, period. All of Virginia’s professional journalists missed what a Capital News Service claims to have found? I encourage anyone to go to my web site, www.delegatebob.com to find the entire video of my comments and easily see for themselves, I never made such a comment. But it has been repeated endless times in print and electronic media without producing the smoking gun tape.

Of course, if some wish to make their own inferences, that is their prerogative. However, they should acknowledge that this is what they are doing. Furthermore, it is no one’s prerogative to claim I spoke words which never came from my mouth, have never been in my heart, and have never been in my public record. I’ve served here nearly two decades. I believe most of you know me well enough to know I would never make such a statement.

I have championed the rights of children that groups like Planned Parenthood think have no business being born. Everyone deserves a lifetime!

I acknowledge that my extemporary remarks mentioned “Nature’s vengeance” or “punishment.” I could have certainly used better words to explain the medical research findings which show a high incidence of complications following induced abortions. Accordingly, I have posted on my web site direct excerpts from 258 peer review studies from the National Library of Medicine as well as the results of research contracts with the US Public Health Service.

Actions within Nature are not direct actions of God. It would have been better had I used the words “natural consequences” to convey my meaning. But even so, not one professional news source attributed a sinister meaning to my words.

Furthermore, my personal and public life show a respect for unwanted or disabled children, including our adoption of three of our own children, one of whom we were told by the adoption agency had a 50-50 chance of carrying a gene that would cause her death as a young adult. We found out years later she did not have the gene. My oldest son, now deceased, took personal care of his quadriplegic friend, taking him to school and sports events.

And I am sure you cannot forget my bills to provide health insurance for autistic children which almost got me kicked out of the Republican Caucus for my hardball tactics, as well as my decades of pro-child, pro-women legislation. And this year I authored the cord blood bill to help disabled children and First Responders, which this House unanimously supported.
I also have proposed HB 334, which passed the House of Delegates 95-2, and which requires women undergoing abortion to be offered medical articles concerning possible complications in future pregnancies, a bill which Planned Parenthood opposes.

There are powerful interests which seek to prevent this information from reaching women. And, there is the tragedy of Planned Parenthood, which endorses pre-natal diagnosis to eliminate the live birth of persons with disabilities.

The disabled and their families are reacting in part to words I never said, never meant, and don’t believe. I served here almost two decades. You know these news accounts are not fair. But I continue to apologize to families for the fallout from all of this.

I take my oath of office seriously, and believe it is important to protect my constituents by ensuring full transparency about a procedure that may adversely impact their future reproductive health. That is why I strongly believe that Planned Parenthood, which performs roughly one-fourth of all abortions nationwide and opposes protecting women with this vital information, should not be funded by Virginia taxpayers.

Children, whether wanted or unwanted, intended or unintended, “normal” or disabled, of any background or are blessings from a loving God. I have held this view from the first day I came here and will hold it to the last day that I serve here. I will continue to fight on their behalf and on behalf of the courageous families who care for these wonderful children.

As to the VCU run Capital News Service, I forgive you for making this slanderous claim about me and my life.

Nevertheless, there remains the journalistic obligation for Capital News Service to correct the record and to publically acknowledge the following:
-You never gave me a chance to defend myself.
-You never checked with me to verify whether I believed your claims or that my meaning was as you suggested.
-You have made inferences about my words, but presented them to the public as if I actually said them.
-Your web site claims to present my full comments but a transcript of my actual comments made available by CBN and now on my website shows you ended my comment in mid sentence and omitted my reference to a VCU study of adverse complications from induced abortion relating to low birth weight and premature birth.
-Your report as to what was allegedly said was NOT verified by professional colleagues or a video of the original press conference.
-You are using equivocal meanings to the terms Nature and God to make a claim about children and the Creator that I never made and don’t believe.

Let the truth be known.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

[change]

Steve,
Speaking of “partisan crap”, maybe you should check the video and make your own decision instead of parroting things you are too lazy to investigate yourself. NEVER did he say that they were God’s punishment.

I suppose facts don’t really matter to you when there is an opportunity to bash someone with whom you disagree. I suppose you still believe the glaciers will melt by 2035, global warming is manmade, the earth is flat and all humans will die if cap n trade is not passed.

Also, I suppose it was lost on you just how many black ministers were standing behind Marshall at this meeting. Guess that leaves out the opportunity for you to peg him as a right wing racist.

[www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawkYqVwrKwZRlpD2yAerf60smeBA4DpEeUc]

Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Scarlet Child
Del. Bob Marshall
Virginia House of Delegates

Dear Del. Marshall,

As a biblical literalist, I applaud you for your courageous declaration that God punishes wicked women by giving their babies birth defects. It's about time someone told the truth about the handicapped--far from being "special," they are punishments, very visible punisments--little scarlet babies announcing to the world that their mothers are adultresses and murderers, .

But are you ready to confront such women and denounce them for their sins? Is that not the purpose of a scarlet letter? How will these women understand the gravity of their crimes if they are not made to despise themselves for prompting the Lord to curse them with a special-needs child?

What about Sarah Palin? Have you spoken with her? What was her sin?

Heterosexually yours,

Gen. JC Christian, patriot

[Steve Vaughan]

Change, Dear dumbass, news stories do not begin with direct quotes. The first paragraph needed to be an accurate paraphrase of Marshall's langauge and meaning. It was. You, and he, would do yourselves a great deal of good by letting the matter drop. Although I know you don't, he knows better than this.